Improvement in torpedoes for oil-wells



Patented Feb. 9, 1869= E.l A. LQROBERTS.'

To'rpedo for Oil Wells.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIGE.V

EDWARD A. L. ROBERTS, OF TITUSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TORPEDOES FOR OIL-WELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 86,691, dated February9, 1869.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. L. RoB- ERTs, of Titusville, in the countyof Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Explosion of Nitro-Glycerine Torpedoes; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a partof this specication, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view ofmy improved torpedo; and-Figs. 2 and 8 are outside views, somewhatenlarged, of the firing or exploding apparatus.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention relates to the construction of torpedoes adapted ordesigned for subterraneous or submarine explosion, and more particularlyto that class of torpedoes in which is used nitro-glycerine, or otherarticle, mixture, or compound which may be exploded by percussion; andthe nature of it consists in the use of a projectile, inserted in thelower end of a priming-chamber or iiring-tube, the joint of theprojectile and tube being protected by a rubber tube, so as to bewater-tight.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement, Iwill proceed to describe its construction and manner of use.

a is a flask or can of any known or suitable construction, which ischarged with nitroglycerine, or other like explosive, with or withoutgravel-stones s, for which use of gravelstones with explosive compoundsI have already made an application for Letters Patent. The cap a at\theupper end of the flask a has a tapped or threaded barrel, b, into which,by a screw-thread cut on, the outside thereof, is screwed a metallicpipe or tube, b, open at both ends, and its lower end projecting downinto the ask a any desired distance.

Intothe cylindrical opening of this ringtube b, near its upper open end,I screw a gunnipple, c, and on it place a percussion-cap.

The open space d below the nipple c is a priming-chamber, to be filledwith gunpowder, or other like explosive substance, and the lower endofthe priming-chamber d'is closed by a metallic plug or projectile, d',of such weight that when ejected from its seat by the ignition andexplosion of the powder above, it will exercise sufficient percussiveforce to explode the nitro-glycerine in the ask a.

A hammer, f, is placed in the upper-open may be further secured, iffound necessary,

by tying it tightly above and below the joint, as at ac.

The plug or projectile d', I usually make with a shoulder, as shown, sothat while one end fits neatly inside the tube b, the other end will beflush or even with the outside of the tube b. j

' A collar g, on the firing-tube b, answers the double purpose ofsecuring amore perfect joint between the tube b and barrel b', and

furnishing a place of attachment for the ends of the bail h, by whichthe torpedo is lowered to the place where it is to be exploded. The

cord or wire by which it is to be lowered isA attached to the bail h,passes through the open head of the hammer f, and after the torpedo hasreached the desired point, an annular or tubular weight is slid down it,which, striking the hammer f, explodes the cap on the nipple c,rby whichthe powder in the chamber d is ignited, and this in turn drives out theplug or projectile d with such force as to explode the nitro-glycerinein the iiask a.

`Such a torpedo is easily and safely pr'e.

pared and used, and is exploded with almost absolute certainty. Thechief use to which I apply it-is that of a torpedo for oil-wells. Byexploding it in the oil-bearing strata, the veins in which the oil iiowsare cleaned out or opened, or new veins are made, with a consequentincrease in the productiveness of the well.

What I claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A projectile or metallic plug, d', inserted in the lower end of thefiring-tube or priming chamber of a torpedo exploding apparatus, incombination with a filling of nitro-glycerine, with or without gravel,substantially'l as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said EDWARD A. L.RoBERTs, have hereunto setmy hand.

EDWARD A. L. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

ELL TORRANGE, G. H. CHRISTY.

